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Punished to Kneel in the Ancestral Hall
T/N: Translated by Jen on Broken Jinsei! Please do not repost my translations! All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Listening to Shen Lan Chi’s words, Shen first madam learned that the two of them had actually met in secret inside the imperial palace while Shen Lan Chi was changing.
One must know, although Great Chu’s customs were open, not having strict etiquette between men and women, that was ultimately still inside the palace walls that manifested the imperial family’s majesty, the forbidden garden of the imperial household. To actually have a secret rendezvous in such a place, if it gets out, won’t they become a laughingstock?
“Really not having any sense of propriety!” Shen first madam reprimanded with anger in her brows, “Fortunately, this matter didn’t get spread out by anyone, else if the crown prince were to find out, don’t even think about marrying into the Eastern Palace again in this lifetime!”
Shen Lan Chi had her head lowered, softly saying, “Mother, this daughter already said before that this daughter fell in love with the heir at first sight, and now, already don’t want to marry the crown prince anymore.”
Hearing these words, Shen first madam’s complexion turned serious and couldn’t help but faintly waver inside, ‘Could it be that her daughter really was this deeply in love?’
Just, this thought only spun around in Shen first madam’s mind for a moment before disappearing. Shortly after, she said, “What are you being willful for? That crown prince is the husband that the young ladies of the Chu capital all beg to marry but are unable to. You’re actually even starting to disdain? Moreover, you are the An Duke Manor first branch’s di daughter. Only by marrying the crown prince can you help the An Duke Manor rise to a higher level.”
Shen first madam originally thought that these words can beat some sense into Shen Lan Chi, so as to let her prioritize the greater cause, but who knew, Shen Lan Chi would suddenly lift her head, revealing an earnest look in her eyes, and say to her, “Mother, the An Duke Manor at present is already extremely spoiled with honor. Looking throughout the Chu capital, and also surveying through the history books, how many famous clans are able to possess the An Duke Manor’s current glory and splendor? If standing in the highest official position still isn’t enough, then what else does mother and father want for the An Duke Manor in order to be satisfied? Could it be that it’s wanting to overturn the heavens, changing the flag……….”
“Shut up!”
Shen Lan Chi’s words can be said to be very offensively shocking.
Shen first madam was alarmed inside and immediately shouted to stop her. Seeing that there was no one around, she finally exhaled a breath, carefully saying, “Such words, is it something that you a girl of the boudoir can say? The matters outside naturally will have father and older brother handling. You don’t need to think this much!”
Afterwards, like as if afraid Shen Lan chi will say something offensively shocking again, Shen first madam hurriedly ordered Bi Yu and Lu Zhu to take their miss back to rest.
After Shen Lan Chi left, Shen first madam took a small sip of tea. She recalled her daughter’s words earlier, feeling slightly startled inside.
This daughter of hers has lived a life of luxury since childhood, just loving gold silk and silver ornaments, no different from an ordinary noble daughter. Yet, just now, Shen Lan Chi had said such shocking words, as if a different person, so how could she not be startled? Especially that line of ‘could it be that it’s wanting to overturn the heavens, changing the flag’, it further made Shen first madam feel uneasy inside.
Indeed, these years, the An Duke Manor truly has had a bit too much glory and honor, to the extent that Shen first madam faintly felt that his Majesty was trying to ‘kill by flattering’, just waiting for the An Duke Manor’s ambitions to gradually grow bigger, their domineering behavior exposing before everyone, so as to catch them all in one go.
Because of the uneasiness inside, Shen first madam went to the study, wanting to talk with the first master, Shen Xin Gu, for a while.
In the back manor, Shen first madam was a swift and decisive person, always able to have the manor tidied up properly. Aside from occasionally getting into disagreements with the second branch’s Xiao-shi, the rest of the times, she was all an awe-inspiring and skillful person on all sides. But, even such a capable woman, in front of Shen Xin Gu, still needed to put on a gentle and docile appearance.
At the end of the day, it was still because that head of the An Duke Manor sitting behind the desk was too imposing.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Shen Xin Gu had just passed forty, yet in his hair, there was already a bit of white. Presumably, it was caused by thinking too much all year round. For Shen first madam, he was a good husband, but also not a good husband. What was good was that he didn’t take in concubines, mutually respecting like honored guests with Shen first madam. But, what wasn’t good was that towards his wife and children, he was too indifferent. Even if in the same manor, one still didn’t see him asking about his children much.
Sometimes, Shen first madam even feels that Shen Xin Gu simply doesn’t understand how to be considerate of his family, just busying himself with the matters outside all day long.
“Master.” In the study, Shen first madam bowed towards Shen Xin Gu.
“You’ve come?” Shen Xin Gu placed down the brush, faintly pointing and saying, “Sit. What’s the matter?”
“If nothing, I can’t come to see master?” Shen first madam asked.
“You’re not this type of person.” Shen Xin Gu said, “You certainly must have something to ask.”
Shen first madam fell silent for a while, inhaling a breath before saying, “Lan’er said some words, making me feel somewhat uneasy inside. The An Duke Manor these years has received honor and favor to the extreme, just like fresh flowers wearing brocade, like the raging fire and boiling oil. But, such extensive favor ultimately makes one worried.”
“Lan’er said this?” Shen Xin Gu asked, his hand lifting the brush again, drawing two circles on the scroll.
“Precisely.” Shen first madam softly said, “Don’t know who said this to her.”
“Ting Yuan and her just happened to perfectly be of different personalities. Ting Yuan just wants to resign from the assistant minister position and escape back home to draw behind shut doors. Meanwhile, Lan Chi, a girl of the boudoir, has actually started giving pointers on the major affairs of the family and country.” Shen Xin Gu didn’t lift his eyes, his voice calm and composed.
“Turns out, master also knows about Yuan’er’s inner thoughts?” Shen first madam actually had a trace of delight.
“For the time being, you just need to go back and look after the back manor, remember to grind down Lan Chi’s temper some more. She’s someone that will marry the crown prince in the future, and also the future mother of the country. It’s not good to still be this frivolous and speak such nonsense again. As for the other matters, I naturally know how to handle appropriately, needless for you to worry too much.”
Shen Xin Gu said and then no longer spoke.
Shen first madam was helpless, knowing that he won’t say more, so got up and took her leave.
Right at this time, a servant boy ran in, leaning by Shen Xin Gu’s ear and quietly whispering something. Shen Xin Gu’s dense brows slightly furrowed, having the brush heavily put down, asking, “Who did he get into a fight with?”
“With…….with…….” That servant boy bent his waist, his forehead filled with cold sweat, “Young master Ting Zhu fought over the way with Shanyin Wang’s heir……….”
“……….” Shen Xin Gu fell silent for a while, sighing and saying, “Forget it, go let Chief Steward An go take care of this matter. Prepare some more gifts to take to the Shanyin Wang Manor to apologize.”
When that servant boy left, Shen first madam couldn’t help but comment, “Master, you shouldn’t indulge the second branch like this. Yesterday, it’s stealing a girl from a good family. Today, it’s getting into a fight with Shanyin Wang’s heir. What will it be tomorrow?”
“Why don’t you go back.” Shen Xin Gu didn’t say more, “Properly look after Lan Chi.”
Shen first madam could only give up.
The master was this indifferent towards his own wife and children, yet towards the second branch, he was this tolerant, really making one resentful inside.
That entire second branch was all covered in a foul atmosphere. From top to bottom, not a single one wasn’t crooked, using the An Duke Manor’s name to oppress others. Especially that Shen second madam Xiao-shi, who originally just had an ambitious and aggressive firecracker temper to begin, because of Shen first master’s tolerance, actually frequently rode above her head, really hateful.
Even if Shen first master’s tolerance had some unspeakable reason behind it, Shen first madam was still unable to swallow that breath.
. . .
The Shen family second branch.
Shen Tong Ying was currently secretly talking to Hong Xiu, her face full of excitement.
Earlier, when strolling around the first branch, she actually heard many incredible things. Turns out, that perfect younger tang sister of hers from the first branch actually fell in love with Zhannan Wang Manor’s heir, even secretly meeting with him in the imperial gardens.
No wonder when Shen Lan Chi attended the palace banquet, she’d dressed that plainly, as if fearing she would attract Lu Zhao Ye’s attention.
After summoning Hong Xiu over for questioning, Shen Tong Ying only then learned that such a good play had occurred while Shen Lan Chi was changing.
She carefully checked her dressing case, making sure that she didn’t lose a light apricot-colored sachet before. Afterwards, she planned to let Hong Xiu have this matter spread outside.
A good thing falling from the skies, how could Shen Tong Ying not be pleasantly surprised?
“That second younger sister of mine, didn’t she want to make this matter known all over the city? As the older sister, how can I not give her a helping hand?” Shen Tong Ying couldn’t help but reveal a smile, the corner of her mouth raising high, “In such a way, his Highness the Crown Prince probably won’t want to marry such a fickle woman, right?”
Hong Xiu hurriedly nodded her head, fawningly saying, “If second miss really marries Zhennan Wang Manor’s heir, then this crown princess position will just belong to eldest miss.”
The master and servant pair quietly discussed for a while before finally going to rest.
. . .
Four to five days later, among the nobles of the Chu capital, a rumor quietly started spreading, saying that the young lady of the An Duke Manor’s first branch, Shen Lan Chi, had some entanglement with the Zhennan Wang Manor’s heir, Lu Qi Yang, even secretly meeting in the imperial palace’s forbidden gardens during the palace banquet.
If it was just an ordinary man and woman meeting in seclusion, then simply no one would say anything. But, this Shen Lan Chi was a daughter of the An Duke Manor, also the empress’s niece, the rumored future crown princess. Her secretly meeting with Lu Qi Yang, wasn’t that embarrassing the imperial family?
This news passed from one to ten, ten to a hundred. Very soon, even the people of the An Duke Manor all learned of it.
When Shen first madam heard of this matter, she was so angered that she couldn’t even drink the tea. Previously, when she heard about her daughter secretly meeting with Lu Qi Yang, she was already worried that this matter might get exposed by someone. Now that this news really was like as if growing wings, flying throughout the Chu capital, how could Shen first madam not be angered?
This time certainly will let Lan Chi swallow this lesson!
At once, Shen first madam let someone go handle this matter, while also ordering the servant girl to have Shen Lan Chi who’d just woken up invited over, and without a second word, just had Shen Lan Chi taken to the Shen family’s ancestral hall, letting her kneel before the memorial tablets of the ancestors.
Watching her daughter kneel, Shen first madam slightly heartached, but very soon, she hardened her heart.
That rumor naturally had a way to be resolved. It was just letting someone use some other rumor to cover over it. But, Lan Chi’s marriage concerned the An Duke Manor’s future prospects and the imperial family’s face, so absolutely can’t just let it go, letting Lan Chi continue making mistakes like this!
Poor Shen Lan Chi had just woken up not long ago, still somewhat in a daze, yet got forced to kneel in front of the memorial tablets. Since childhood, she has only ever kneeled before the memorial tablets twice. One time, it was during the new year celebration, when she and Lu Qi Yang threw firecrackers in the imperial ditch where his Majesty passed through. The other time was the next year, when she and Lu Qi Yang threw firecrackers in the imperial ditch where his Majesty passed through again, causing all the palace servants on the pathway to be covered in water from the explosion.
In comparison, the people of the second branch just knelt before the memorial tablets a lot more. Of course, Shen first master won’t let the people of the second branch kneel before the memorial tablets. The great majority of the times, it was the people of the second branch causing trouble, and the old An Duke, Shen Rui, who truly was unable to keep watching, demanding the person that caused the trouble to kneel before the memorial tablets for a few hours to acknowledge their mistake.
“Just let her kneel!” Shen first madam heartached as she gritted her teeth, “Last time, forgot to punish you, so can’t forget now. The might of the imperial family, how can it allow you to be wanton? Properly kneel for me!”
Although it was early summer, the floor of this ancestral hall was nevertheless very cold and hard. Shen Lan Chi felt her knees were somewhat uncomfortable. She secretly hammered her knees, mumbling, “So, in our An Duke Manor’s eyes, there’s still the imperial family’s might………”
Shen first madam although said to not allow others to attend to her daughter who was kneeling in the ancestral hall, she nevertheless heartached to death, pacing back and forth outside the ancestral hall, carefully counting how much time has passed. Precisely at this time, Hong Que came back from outside, saying, “Madam, the duke is coming over with the Zhennan Manor’s heir.”
Shen first madam was slightly surprised, saying, “What is the heir doing here at this time? Let someone invite him to the master’s place.”
“This……..” Hong Que revealed a troubled look, saying, “It was the duke that led him over. It’s not good for us, servants, to block.”
Shen first madam naturally knew of her own father-in-law’s eccentric temperament, also knowing that Hong Que’s words weren’t false. Not long after, that Zhennan Wang Manor’s little heir just followed over behind Shen Rui. Upon arriving in the Shen family’s ancestral hall, without a second word, he lifted his gown, attempting to kneel down across from Shen Lan Chi.
This bending of the knees made Shen first madam nearly lose her soul in shock.
Someone of the Lu family kneeling in the Shen family’s ancestral hall, if this gets out, won’t they lose their heads!
“Heir quickly get up! What is heir doing this for?” Shen first madam said in shock, “You mustn’t kneel!”
Lu Qi Yang originally was just half-bending his knees, simply not planning on actually kneeling down. Upon hearing this, he got up and said, “Shen first madam, I can’t bear to see Shen second miss kneeling in this ancestral hall. If it’s wrong to secretly meet, then it’s also Qi Yang’s fault, so why let Shen second miss kneel?”
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